Fredericksburg Everything you’d expect in Texas and nothing like it at all. First settled in 1846 by Germans looking to escape the bondage of continental Europe, Fredericksburg is also famously home to Chester Nimitz, commander of the Pacific Fleet during the Second World War, and President Lyndon B. Johnson’s “Texas White House”. The town of 10,000 has exceptional museums and attractions while maintaining a small town feel with a distinctly German sensibility.
Arriving at Fredericksburg via the San Antonio international airport, the first thing you notice is the German flag flying next to the American and Texan flags. The buildings are constructed of yellow stones that makes them look like they are straight out of the film 3:10 to Yuma, but there’s also a sense of elegance and a European, yet sill American, feel to the place. For convenience stay at the Fredericksburg Inn & Suites, located two blocks from Main Street. Everything in Fredericksburg proper is no more than 20-minutes on foot. PHOTO: ROBBYN DODD
What makes Fredericksburg unique is just how German it is. Unlike other parts of the United States, this place has retained the culture of its founding citizens. If you want German food try Opa’s. It’s a cute little butcher shop that sells traditional German sausages, made in store, and stocks treats straight from Germany. If you want a German-style breakfast, the Old German Bakery & Restaurant with its very German chef serve German-style pancakes that will humble any appetite, along with American classics like biscuits and gravy. For a German-style lunch or dinner, Der Lindenbaum serves traditional dishes like schnitzel and currywurst, which rival Berlin for authenticity. The decor will make you forget you are in the U.S. For another unique German experience visit Das Peach Haus. Sitting on the outskirts of town, it is owned by Fischer & Wieser Specialty foods, a local, family-owned company that’s famous across the United States, Mexico and
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Canada for its sauces — the awardwinning Raspberry Chipotle sauce is fantastic! Das Peach Haus is Mark Wieser and Case Fisher's tribute to their earlier business producing jellies and preserves behind their family's peach orchard. The facility's Adventure Cooking School teaches Germanstyle cooking using Fischer & Wieser Specialty foods products. The classes are taught in a high-tech environment with a professional chef. Another great spot for food is Otto’s German Bistro offers authentic German food like Schnitzel plus fusion-based cuisine, like a German gnocchi dish. The food is excellent and the owners take immense pride in their German and vintage wine collection, on offer at affordable prices. They also make great German-style deserts like chocolate cake. There are plenty of historical related activities in town.The Pioneer Museum, located right on the main street, is an excellent place to get acquainted with the unique and interesting history of the town. The masterpiece though is The National Museum of the of Pacific War, built it Fredericksburg because its native son, Chester Nimitz, led the American fleet during the war in Pacific (Second World War). It is a world-class institution and par none PHOTOS: VISITFREDERICKSBURGTX.COM
PHOTO: ROBBYN DODD
PHOTO: MIKE STILLWELL
travel by Mckenzie Donovan
